2 February 2011 Last updated at 13:35 ET

Brooke Kinsella: Teach children about knife crime

Children as young as 10 should be taught in school about the dangers of knife crime, a report from ex-EastEnders star Brooke Kinsella says.

Her 16-year-old brother Ben was stabbed to death in north London in 2008.

Ms Kinsella, 27, appointed a government adviser on the issue last year, called for a scheme to deal with the "fear and fashion" factor of knives.

The Home Office has announced it is to spend £18m over the next two years to combat knife, gun and gang crime.

Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said Ms Kinsella was doing "invaluable" work to tackle knife crime but the government was "being completely disingenuous".

Ms Kinsella has been a vocal campaigner on the issue of youth violence since her brother was stabbed 11 times on a night out in Holloway, north London.

Since then, Ms Kinsella has sat in on education sessions, met youth mentors and spent time talking to young people.

"I really believe the problem of knife crime has escalated in the past few years, and the impact it has on communities and families is devastating," she said.

Peer pressure

Her report calls for more early intervention, education and awareness to start at "primary school level," particularly for 10 to 11 year olds before they start secondary school.

"Whilst seven may be deemed too young for some of the content I experienced in the projects I visited, it seems to be the majority opinion that education and awareness needs to start at primary school level, particularly in the last year before they move up to secondary school and become more susceptible to peer pressure and influence," she said.

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We've got to act now before anyone else goes through what my family and countless others have been throughâ€